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<br />Page 10 of 24 <br /> <br />2.4 SCOPE OF WORK <br />The scope includes updating the existing plans and ordinances to address the most pressing ecological, <br />climate, and community challenges in a unified, enforceable manner. The overall intent is to develop <br />recommended updates to the city’s policies and regulations on urban forestry, public tree management, <br />and landscaping to protect and expand the city’s tree canopy, thereby reducing energy use, mitigating <br />heat stress, managing stormwater, and sequestering carbon. <br />Outcomes of this work will directly improve watershed health, protect salmon-bearing streams, and <br />reduce stormwater runoff. These outcomes are essential for maintaining water quality in the Snohomish <br />River basin and Puget Sound, ecosystems that are central to the region’s identity, economy, and treaty <br />obligations. The overall goal is to expand the tree canopy to reduce urban heat islands, improve air <br />quality, and provide shade and cooling in neighborhoods most vulnerable to climate change. Work <br />includes identifying important stakeholders and partners, such as Tribal governments, to provide <br />guidance on salmon recovery and treaty rights. Watershed councils and environmental organizations <br />contribute technical expertise and community perspectives. Housing advocates and equity-focused <br />groups are to ensure that tree canopy expansion and incentives are designed to benefit underserved <br />neighborhoods. Community members engaged through multilingual and culturally relevant outreach to <br />shape the ordinance to reflect local priorities and lived experiences. <br />2.5 ORDINANCE & PLAN OBJECTIVES <br />The city has identified the following as the most important objectives of the plan and ordinance update. <br />1. Updated policies and regulations that move the City of Everett's vision to an enforceable policy <br />with transparency and community input, ensuring that tree-related policies and replacements are <br />consistently applied across permitting and development processes. <br />2. Incorporate equity mapping tools and community feedback to identify areas where tree canopy is <br />lowest, and environmental burdens are highest, so that the city can direct resources and <br />incentives to those neighborhoods first. <br />3. Develop recommendations for sustainable funding sources for ongoing tree maintenance, <br />plantings, and compliance with the City's code. <br />4. Stronger tree retention standards, especially in critical areas, to mitigate flooding risks, enhance <br />carbon sequestration, and increase resilience to extreme weather events, with the goal of <br />improving public health and livability across Everett, particularly in areas with the highest <br />environmental burdens. <br />5. Create a scalable model for other Puget Sound jurisdictions seeking to integrate forest hydrology <br />and salmon recovery goals into local planning. The goal of the ordinances is to demonstrate how <br />municipal regulations can align ecological restoration with development practices, offering <br />replicable strategies for balancing growth with environmental stewardship. <br />2.6 FOCUS AREAS <br />The city has identified the following areas of focus to update: